‘Slipstream’ was written for all-Australian String Orchestra RuthlessJabiru as part of Sound and Music’s Portfolio Scheme. The piece is based on the sculpture created by Richard Wilson for Heathrow Airport in 2014. ‘Slipstream’ is inspired by the exhilarating potential of flight, coupled with the physical aesthetics of aircraft. Constructed in aluminium, the piece aimed to solidify the twisting velocity of a stunt plane manoeuvring through the volume of the new terminal. I aimed to capture this dynamism musically; energetic lines twist and turn with a constant sense of energy.

Conducted by its founding Artistic Director Kelly Lovelady, Ruthless Jabiru will perform the piece in a noise-inspired programme of music for string orchestra by Julia Wolfe, Gloria Coates, Cat Hope, Osvaldo Golijov and Michael Cryne exploring the aural narrative around the suffocation of the arts by fuel dependency. For this occasion, the new music ensemble dedicated to championing humanitarian stories through its performance will join forces with Art Not Oil calling for London’s cultural organisations to turn their backs on fossil fuels.